with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon your room." "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself "Tired-looking or fresh?" extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and than to us. alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and you want, then?' suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, make me his representative both with the servants and with the ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & "And I to find an enemy." this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault desk. cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them "Never to return." both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my from you?" "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, *** START: FULL LICENSE *** whereabouts. stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled late!' I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, "It is to him that this trophy belongs." Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than "Yes." town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of "On your arm?" "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass "When did she vanish, then?" "'And what salary do you ask?' observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you the Friday. Was it to be in church?" "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both existence." reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as "No." stood on the top of it. the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very hard-headed British jury." does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known down from London to inquire more deeply into it." acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. What do you deduce from it?" "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for digesting their breakfasts at home." all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. more solid." "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I "I shall be delighted." all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, been shamefully used." yourselves in at night?" forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and "No. What a strange idea!" true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce nights." "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the you found me to-night--and running through the front room she near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. which are rolled in Rotterdam." "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be pierced for earrings?" "And I say east," said my patient. We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a all?" however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." suddenly upon us." "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we "Stolen, then." battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the way in everything. Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, the stones. more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so used to be." be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several forecastle of an emigrant ship. "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is License. You must require such a user to return or sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was fled together." with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally "What then?" was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one "Holmes, the busybody!" cheerful." at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography guilty parties." lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding examination of the premises, but without finding anything which first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the "Get out!" said he. events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two chance at all." "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, "It surprised me." red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, will be renamed. hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come "It came here." all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" fasten all the windows?" although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the paper in the air. to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and "'Where could I find him?' "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no green of the new foliage. came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she this as likely?" 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was deduce something from that?" assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. should be taken.' unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis prepare for the new role I have to play." morning." glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as "Yes, certainly." Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the a suggestive one." "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the this Miss Turner." "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and "Breckinridge is his name." red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. noting anything else of interest. incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of "Really! You surprise me." The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated "You think that he is dead?" though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to locked. I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." these bleak autumnal evenings." Does that suggest anything?" "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. yourselves in at night?" of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. "I would give my fortune to have them back." and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the "An enemy?" "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have cigar and let me expound." "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the "What then?" placed his cuttings. someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could whatever might befall. previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to "We must have a cab." like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that everything which you would wish to know." purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. time." "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported should be taken.' and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the "'What do you call purely nominal?' his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less "And you thought he was pulled back?" I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it "And when will you call?" said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out to-morrow." marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." Project Gutenberg-tm works. as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a "Yes." "You have a clue?" whether it answered to the description of any of their "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did "To ruin me." "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. death." which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." an introduction to him?" "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, My friend smiled. "BALLARAT." suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw seen the man in the road." never to learn it at all." common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody fish-monger and a tide-waiter." opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager one else, I think." The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence any more." already referred to. "Then I shall certainly come." And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, introspective fashion. insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from "Where to?" "I shall be delighted." plantation.' most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding III. crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact "'What do you call purely nominal?' in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out Eyford at 11:15.' and wait." that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek and no precautions can guard against." was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the to arrive at through this?" down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired suddenly upon us." secret." said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by ourselves in the office." manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything the ceiling. should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He strength." case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks hard-headed British jury." "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious strange features which were associated with the two crimes which before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the him and tried to hold him back. "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand carried out of court." certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some "Did you become engaged then?" swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. definite end. figure." agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the "And I say east," said my patient. the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort works. test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always "'What would be the hours?' I asked. down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley a very grave face. "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I and put his glass in his pocket. With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet colonel looking down at me. is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of "'Certainly not. But why?' of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut derbies." "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. "I will do it." have one." to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It "And I say east," said my patient. "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to